According to data released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the apprehensions of undocumented immigrant children from Mexico and Central America have dropped by half at select southwest border sectors.

During the 2015 fiscal year, so far, 18,919 unaccompanied immigrant children have been apprehended across nine sectors in the southwestern U.S. In comparison to the same fiscal-year period in 2014, the CBP apprehended 36,280 unaccompanied children. When comparing both fiscal years, so far, the CBP noted there has been a 48 percent drop in apprehending unaccompanied undocumented immigrant children.

Mexico and Guatemala have been responsible for most of the unaccompanied immigrant children encountered by the CBP. The CBP encountered 6,607 immigrant children from Guatemala, while the rate of Mexicans was close at 6,519. El Salvador ranked third with 3,514 immigrant children, followed by Honduras with 1,977.

As Latin Post reported, William Brownfield, assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, spoke about the "interrelated economic, political and security challenges" in Central America, including migration's effect from the region.

"Last summer's surge in the numbers of unaccompanied children and families from Central America to the United States was just the most dramatic example of how our national security is entwined with that of the region," said Brownfield to the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere on April 30, adding the growth of violent transnational gangs and drug trafficking also had an impact.

Must Read: Central America's 'Instability' Puts US, Neighbors at Risk of Continued Illegal Migration 

Migrants from Latin American have more than often been highlighted as the source for immigration in the U.S., but new research found China has surpassed Mexico as "the top sending county for immigrants to the U.S."

The U.S. Census Bureau statistician Eric Jensen's research found China replaced Mexico as the top sending country for immigrants to the U.S., and the distinction comes as immigration from Mexico reportedly decreased during the last decade. The last decade saw a rise of Chinese and Indian migrants entering the U.S.

Jensen noted the racial and ethnic composition of immigration flows into the U.S. has changed, highlighting the 41.2 percent of Latino immigrants in the U.S. in 2000 dropped to 25.5 percent by 2013. The rate of Asian immigrants in the U.S. increased to 40.2 percent in 2013, an increase from 2000's 23.6 percent.

"Change in the racial and ethnic composition of immigrant flows contributes to the overall racial and ethnic makeup of the United States," wrote Jensen. "While Hispanics are still the largest racial or ethnic minority group, a larger percentage of the Asian population was foreign-born [65.4 percent] compared with the Hispanic population [35.2 percent] in 2013."

Immigrant flows into the U.S. have changed before. Migrations for northern and western Europe occurred before immigrants from southern and eastern Europe made their travel to the U.S. Migration from Latin America is considered as the "most recent wave." In regards to the trends from Asia, he wrote it is "yet to be seen" if they will become a "new and distinct wave."

Must Read: U.S. State Department's Jill Esposito Talks New Pilot Program to Streamline Immigrant Visas, Improve Communication 

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